City. United Black Fund, JumpStart among founding partners of Oct. 27-28 inaugral conference
The inaugural FutureLAND conference, envisioned as an annual Cleveland-based destination experience celebrating diversity in tech, arts and culture, is set to launch next month at a variety of venues in and around downtown. The event seeks to transform Cleveland’s innovation and tech ecosystem by welcoming and supporting African American, Hispanic, Latinx and BIPOC innovators and creatives.
Scheduled for Thursday, October 27 and Friday, October 28, the event will feature a variety of panels, workshops and fireside chats with industry leaders and experts. The event also includes two tech-focused pitch events where founders will compete for more than $100K in funding.
The conference is organized by an executive committee of entrepreneurs and tech innovators and supported by the City of Cleveland, the United Black Fund, JumpStart and others. Cleveland-based MCPc, a leading tech company committed to the community, diversity and inclusion, is the presenting sponsor.
“As a young, black founder from Cleveland, I am beyond energized by the vision of FutureLAND, our team, and the possibilities it brings for the region,” said Musa Hakim Jr., of LazyMoose, a Web 3.0 startup. “Having champions and sponsors like Mayor Bibb, JumpStart, The United Black Fund, MCPc, and the others, signals that Cleveland is dedicated to supporting diverse tech talent.”
Musa Hakim Jr of LazyMoose
The tech economy continues to flourish, bringing considerable growth in job creation, revenue generation, tax revenue and more; however, equitable capital access and growth opportunities continue to lag.
“Cleveland has the potential to curve the trend,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. “We are more than a sports city. We have an emerging tech ecosystem led by a cohort of bright leaders of color. We have the talent, grit, amenities, and passion to make our city a place where tech founders can build and entrepreneurs can thrive.”
FutureLAND is a homegrown initiative encouraging local businesses, institutions, nonprofit leaders, and diverse entrepreneurs to MCP work intentionally together to align opportunity, talent, and resources to position Cleveland as a leading destination for inclusive technology-led growth.
“MCPc is proud to be a sponsor because we believe it takes the power of everyone to build a supportive environment that encourages entrepreneurs of all backgrounds to build Cleveland’s future,” says Michael Trebilcock, Managing Director of Office of Development.
The multi-day conference is organized by six Cleveland natives from diverse backgrounds. FutureLAND's executive directors include Aaron Marks of Circle, Alysha Ellis of Mas La Rae, Camille Genise Heard of FELOH, Charron Leeper of Perfect Pineapple Headwraps, Kumar Arora of Arora Ventures, and Musa Hakim Jr. of LazyMoose.
Organizers promise ample opportunities for networking with like-minded entrepreneurs, creatives, investors, and ecosystem leaders.
For a schedule of events, visit futurelandcle.com. To purchase tickets, visit eventbrite.com/e/futureland-conference-tickets-413745362517.
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